Toronto Sceptres pull away from Boston Fleet to win PWHL opener
CBC
The Toronto Sceptres produced their version of Miller Time in the Professional Women's Hockey League season opener on Saturday.
Second-year centre Hannah Miller scored the game-winning goal on a power play with 98 seconds remaining in the third period, lifting the Sceptres to a 3-1 victory over the Boston Fleet.
"It was pretty much a wide-open net, so I'm happy that I was able to put it in," said Miller, who knocked in a rebound after her teammate Daryl Watts' shot from the far side bounded right to her at the side of the goal.
The 28-year-old Miller from North Vancouver has played for Canada at the under-18 level, in leagues in China and Sweden, and for the Chinese national team at the Beijing Olympics where she scored China's first goal of the 2022 tournament.
But how did Saturday's game-saving moment — played in front of 8,089 fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum — compare?
"Any time you can contribute and score a goal, it's exciting," Miller said. "I'm just happy to get the win tonight and keep building."
Special teams were a significant factor for the home side.
WATCH | Miller buries winner:
The Spectres fell behind three minutes into the first period thanks to a Hilary Knight power-play goal.
Toronto tied the game halfway through the opening frame when Sarah Nurse scored short-handed.
Watts sprung Nurse for a breakaway and she slammed home her rebound.
Watts, signed as a free agent in the off-season after her rookie season in Ottawa, then registered her second assist on Miller's tally.
Emma Maltais added an empty-net goal to seal the score at 3-1.
Toronto was awarded the late-game power play after Boston standout Knight was called for a vicious boarding penalty on Sceptres defender Renata Fast.
